Officer Rescues Dialysis Patient From Flooded Van

A Port St. Lucie officer and St. Lucie County firefighters freed a woman trapped in a transport van swept into a canal during this week's flooding.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Emergency Response

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a flooded residential street seen from above, brown water spreading between low rooftops beside a canal under a gray sky. — Floodwaters swept a medical transport van carrying a dialysis patient into a Port St. Lucie canal, and officers and firefighters rescued both occupants this week. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Floodwaters swept a van carrying Maria Andrade-Vasquez home from dialysis off Lakehurst Drive and into a canal in Port St. Lucie's Swan Park community. Both she and the driver were rescued safely, and body camera video of the rescue has been released.

Why it matters

The rescue came amid dozens of flood-related emergencies Port St. Lucie first responders handled this week after rainfall inundated roads and neighborhoods across the city. It highlights the risks flooding poses to residents who depend on medical transport.

Police body camera footage documents the response, with an officer arriving 100 seconds after dispatch to reports of the van in the canal. The total count of flood-related emergencies this week is described only as dozens, and the report does not detail how many remain active.

The players

St. Lucie County Fire District

The fire district responsible for emergency fire and rescue services in unincorporated and contracted areas of St. Lucie County, Florida.

Maria Andrade-Vasquez

A dialysis patient who was trapped in the transport van and rescued, and who plans to continue treatments three times a week.

The details

Officer Peterson rescued the driver first before learning another passenger was trapped. Wheelchair equipment used during dialysis transport blocked Andrade-Vasquez's escape, and rescuers removed her from the wheelchair and pulled her over the equipment as the van tilted into the canal. Firefighters from St. Lucie County Fire District joined the officer to free her.

Monday: The van was swept into the canal while transporting Andrade-Vasquez home from dialysis.
This week: Body camera video of the rescue was released, and dozens of flood emergencies were handled.

Seasonal Patterns

Port St. Lucie's flood emergencies this week fit a recurring pattern of heavy rainfall inundating roads and neighborhoods across the Treasure Coast of Florida. The response shows how routine rainfall events can escalate into rescue operations involving vehicles swept off roads and into canals.

Residents who rely on scheduled medical transport should plan alternate routes and confirm service during heavy rainfall, since flooded roads can sweep vehicles into canals. Drivers should avoid driving through standing water on roads and in low-lying neighborhoods.

The takeaway

The rescue shows that a single flooded roadway can turn a routine medical trip into an emergency within seconds. Staying out of standing water remains the most effective way to protect yourself during heavy rain.